The Press., 1887-06-23

in figure and department he was the most manly man have ever met His chest was broad his muscles were firm his face wore most benign expression; his complexion was roseate his eyes were light blue and beamed with intelligence :; his hair was soft and light brown in color, and his speech was rather low, sweet and musical. His personal beauty and grace of manner were most charming. Why, all the girls in New Haven fell in love with him" said Dr. Munsen "and wept tears of real sorrow when they, heard of his sad fate. In dress he was always neat he was quick to lend hand to being in distress, brute or human !; was overhowing with good humor, and was the idol of all his ac- quaintances." Dr. r.Jared Sparks who knew several of Hale's intimate friends, writes of him Possessing genius, taste and order he became distinguished as a scholar and endowed in an eminent degree with those graces and gifts of nature which add a charm to youthful excellence, he gained esteem and confidence.
 TO HIGH MORAL WORTH
 and irreproachable habits were joined gen. tleness of manner, an ingenious disposi, tion, and vigor of understanding No young man of his years put forth a fairer pro m SC of futu usefulness and celet- rity the fortunes of none were fostered more sincerely by the generous good wishes of his associates, and the hopes and en- couraging pressages of his superiors." It was remembered at Yale that he was l brilliant debater as well as scholar. At his graduation he engaged in debate on | the question, Whether the education of daughters be not, without any just reason, more neglected than that of the sons ?' | "In this debate," wrote James Hillhouse, one of his classmates, Che was the cham pion of the daughters, and most ably ad- vocated their cause. You may be sure that he received the plaudits of the ladies pres ent. '"
 Hale seems to have had an irresistible charm for everybody. He was a favorite | in society, he had the manner and the qualities that made him 0 leader among men and gained him the admiration of women. He was always intelligently busy, and had the Yankee ingenuity-he 'could do anything but spin" he used to say to the girls of Coventry, laughing over the spinning wheel. There is universal tes- timony to his alert intelligence, vivacity, manhness, sincerity, and winningness
 It is probable that while still an under graduate at Yale, he was engaged to Alice Adams, who was born in Canterbury, a young lady distinguished then as she was afterwards, for great beauty and intelli- gence. After Hale's death she married MT. Eleazer Ripley, and was left 8 widow at the age of IS with one child, who sur- vived it's father only year. She married, the second time, William Lawrence, Esq. of Hartford, and died in this city greatly respected and admired in 1845, aged 88. It is touching note of the
 .. MEMORY OF HER YOUNG LOVER
 upon her admiration that her last words, murmured as life was ebbing, were, "Write to Nathan"
 Hale's short career in the American army must not detain us. After his flying visit as a volunteer to Cambridge, he re- turned to New London, joined company with the rank of lieutenant, participated Ill the siege of. Boston, was commissioned 8 captain in the Nineteenth Connecticut regiment in January, 1776, performed the Iiduties of soldier with vigilance, bravery and patience, and was noted for the disci pline of his company. In the last dispir iting days of 1775, when the terms of his linen had expired, he offered to give them his months pay if they would remain { month longer. He accompanied the army to New York, and shared its fortunes il that discouraging spring and summer Shortly after his arrival Captain Hale dis tingulshed himself by the brilliant exploit of cutting out British sloop, laden with provisions, from under the guns of the man-of-war Asia, sixty -four, lying in the East River, and bringing her triumphant ly into Coenties slip. During the sum- mer he suffered a severe illness.
 The condition of the Ame rican army anC cause on the 1st of September, 1776, after the retreat from Long Island, was critical. The army was demoralzed, ciamoring II vain for pay, and deserting by companies and regiments :; third of the men wele without tents, one-fourth of them were on the sick list. On the 7th, Washington called council of war and anxiously in quired what should be done. On the 12tt 1t was determined to abandon the city and take possession of Harlem Heights. The British army, 25,000 strong, admirably equipped and supported by powerful na val force, threatened to envelop our pool force and finish the war in a stroke. Wash ington was unable to penetrate the designs of the British commander, or to obtain any trusty information of the intentions or the movements of the British army. Informa tion was imperatively necessary to save us from destruction, and it could only be obtained by one skilled in military and scientific knowledge, and good draughts OA NOOA OANV sagacity and courage, and one whose
 JUDGEMENT AND FIDELITY COULD BE TRUST ED.
 Washington appealed to Lieutenant-Col onel Knowlton, who summoned confer ence of officers in the name of the comman der-in chief, and laid the matter before them. No one was willing to undertake the dangerous and ignominons mission. Knowlton was in despair, and late in the conference was repeating the necessity, when young officer, pale from recent ill. ness entered the room, and said, 'I will undertake it.'' It was Captain Nathan Hale Everybody was astonished. His friends besought him not to attempt it. In vain. Hale was under no illusion. He silenced all remonstrances by saying that he thought he owed his country the ac- compishment of an object so important and so desired by the commander-in- chief, and he knew no way to obtain the infor- nation except by going into the enemy's camp in disguise "I wish to be useful, ? he said, "and every kind of service neces- sary for the public good becomes honor able by being necessary. If the exigen- cies of my country demands a peculiar ser vice, its claims to the performers of that service are imperous."
 Tine tale i5 well known Hale crossed